Back in the 1950s thru the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced several cars that were out and out “muscle” vehicles. These types of cars shared the same characteristics: they were 2 door coupes with souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an assertive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High fuel prices and changing tastes eventually limited sales to the point where only a couple of models were produced beyond that time period. Today, muscle vehicle mania is back, despite even higher gas costs. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a smaller extent to sedan and van models from Dodge, there’s new interest in a category long given up. The future is bright for the muscle car segment as another manufacturer, Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of yesteryear, the Camaro.

Besides the Ford Mustang there were a whole host of autos produced that at one point or another should have been considered a muscle car. In addition to the Mustang, the Ford Fairlane 500 and Ford Torino did duty ; the Mercury Montego was another model ; Chevrolet produced the Camaro and Corvette ; Pontiac the GTO, Firebird, and Tempest; Olds the 442; American Motors’ had its Javelin ; Plymouth had the ‘Cuda, and Dodge produced the Challenger and the Charger. Today, only the Mustang and Corvette survives although the Dodge Charger has returned as a 4 door muscle automobile with its sibling, the hot Dodge Magnum wagon.

Interestedly, it took Ford’s redoing of the Mustang for the 2005 model year to stir the present muscle car era craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the present Mustang embraces a retro look while incorporating recent technology. The result has been that the Mustang now sells its entire 150,000 model capacity without incentives.

The Mustang has been inspiring DaimlerChrysler to go ahead with a retro cruiser of its own. The Dodge Challenger concept car, appearing at automobile shows across the USA, has been a massive hit and Chrysler plans on bringing the V8 hemi powered model back in 2009. In addition, General Motors is considering giving its blessing on the Camaro, another car also making the rounds of the States car show circuit.

So, isn’t it silly to bring back such gas hogs? Back during the early 1970s, the then current crop of muscle cars averaged only 10-12 miles to the gallon in town and fifteen or sixteen miles per gallon on the highway. Thanks to PC technology and efficiency, even the Corvette returns a highly respectable twenty-eight miles to the gallon the highway. So, though fuel mileage will definitely be lower than plenty of other models, the new group of muscle autos will still better the prior generation vehicles with fuel mileage eighty percent or more above the cars from the 1970s.

Fortunately, we continue to live in a reasonably free country and what the buyer wants, the consumer gets. So, V8 powered muscle cars mated to 6 speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel economy will probably appeal to several. No, they will not be exact duplicates of yesterday’s muscle autos, but they are going to provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I can’t wait!.

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